Spock's BeardThe Kindness of Strangers (Metalblade Records)By: Jeb BraninI've listened to this thing about 20 times and I still can't believe what I am hearing. SPOCK'S BEARD take absolutely everything I love about '70 prog rock and update it for the '90s. Hell if I had just heard this on the radio I would have thought somebody had unearthed some YES out takes from the "Fragile" or "Close to the Edge" albums. I didn't think anybody was making music of this magnitude anymore. DREAM THEATRE? Forget it. SPOCK'S BEARD have got the pop sensibility and splendor of the aforementioned YES, to which they add the edge of say JETHRO TULL (or THE WHO!) and even some psychedelic touches circa 1969. And if that wasn't enough to get you drooling, they do a tremendous job of avoiding the pretentiousness and tedious nature of overblown acts like PINK FLOYD. This is simply a masterpiece. Definitely a 'Pick of the Month'. There is hope for pure rock 'n' roll in the nineties.